Scientific Instrument & Electronics Shop Manager

Scripps College•Claremont, CA

1d•$30 - $34

About The Position

Reporting to the Dean of the Department of Natural Sciences, the Scientific Instrument Technician and Electronics Shop Manager (Technician-Manager) maintains, troubleshoots, and manages the scientific instruments and electronics shop within the Department of Natural Sciences of Pitzer and Scripps Colleges (DNS). The Technician-Manager provides essential technical, instructional, and administrative services to DNS, and is responsible for scheduling, assisting, and training faculty, teaching staff, and student users to operate equipment safely and effectively, independently, and routinely. In addition, the Technician-Manager will be responsible for managing instrumentation within the department’s holdings. Of these, particular emphasis will be devoted to the routine management of a Bruker 500 MHz NMR spectrometer, an ion-coupled plasma mass spectrophotometer (ICP-MS), a Waters Xevo G2-XS QTof UPLC-MS, a gas isotope ratio mass spectrophotometer (IRMS), an excimer ultraviolet C laser ablation system, a Perkin Elmer ICP-OES with a New Wave laser ablation system, and a Bruker Tracer 5i pXRF spectrometer. The College is seeking to fill two positions for this role; one full-time and one part-time.

Requirements

Knowledge of managing an electronics or instrumentation shop, including ordering and inventorying parts and equipment, and negotiating with outside vendors for goods and services.
Familiarity with desktop computer/instrument software systems.
Works well in a collaborative environment and effectively interacts with all members of laboratory and college community.
Able to write and disseminate clear protocols.
Following departmental safety training, performs work according to established safety protocols.
Master's degree in electrical engineering, applied physics, analytical instrumentation, analytical geochemistry, chemical engineering, analytical chemistry, or related field, or any combination of education, training or experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and ability.

Nice To Haves

experience with use and maintenance of mass spectrometers, NMR spectrometers, or similar laboratory instrumentation.
Experience in a college or university setting is preferred.

Responsibilities

Perform component-level repairs to a wide variety of electronic, mechanical, and optical scientific laboratory instruments.
Design and fabricate tabletop electronic, mechanical, and optical equipment (including bespoke equipment) for use by faculty in research labs and student research projects.
Consult potential users on the feasibility of proposed analyses and science questions.
Consult with potential users and the Dean of DNS on the development of special analytical protocols to establish standard operating procedures for various instrument analysis methods.
Work with the DNS Dean and faculty stakeholders to establish a user base and policies for instrument and electronics shop user training and support.
Work with DNS safety personnel to ensure a safe and compliant laboratory setting (in accordance with all applicable Federal, State, and College regulations, policies, and laws) to acquaint and train users with laboratory and equipment operation protocols and safety requirements.
Set priorities for work in consultation with the DNS dean, the building manager, and faculty to maintain instruments in all laboratories and keep instrument downtime to a minimum.
Troubleshoot instruments for problems, make repairs and adjustments as needed, and coordinate repair needs and schedules with external vendors.
Coordinate routine service contract maintenance by instrument service technicians.
Provide consultation and technical assistance in the design and construction of equipment for instruction laboratories and research.
Maintain comprehensive instrument logbooks, including user logs that record sample types, quantities, and methods.
Maintain inventory and records for necessary shop materials and supplies; ensure that the proper equipment, tools, and materials are on hand when needed.
Maintain inventory and records for necessary UPLC-MS consumables; ensure that the proper materials are on hand when needed.
Perform other duties and tasks specific to the position as directed.
Actively support the College’s Principles of Community and Institutional Values in the performance of job duties.